Isaiah 23:1-14

The Oracle concerning Tyre

23¹ The burden against Tyre. Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For it is laid waste, So that there is no house, no harbor; From the land of Cyprus it is revealed to them. ² Be still, you inhabitants of the coastland, You merchants of Sidon, Whom those who cross the sea have filled. ³ And on great waters the grain of Shihor, The harvest of the River, is her revenue; And she is a marketplace for the nations. ⁴ Be ashamed, O Sidon; For the sea has spoken, The strength of the sea, saying, "I do not labor, nor bring forth children; Neither do I rear young men, Nor bring up virgins. ⁵ When the report reaches Egypt, They also will be in agony at the report of Tyre. ⁶ Cross over to Tarshish; Wail, you inhabitants of the coastland! ⁷ Is this your joyous city, Whose antiquity is from ancient days, Whose feet carried her far off to dwell? ⁸ Who has taken this counsel against Tyre, the crowning city, Whose merchants are princes, Whose traders are the honorable of the earth? ⁹ The Lord of hosts has purposed it, To bring to dishonor the pride of all glory, To bring into contempt all the honorable of the earth. ¹⁰ Overflow through your land like the River, O daughter of Tarshish; There is no more strength. ¹¹ He stretched out His hand over the sea, He shook the kingdoms; The Lord has given a commandment against Canaan To destroy its strongholds. ¹² And He said, "You will rejoice no more, O you oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon. Arise, cross over to Cyprus; There also you will have no rest." ¹³ Behold, the land of the Chaldeans, This people which was not; Assyria founded it for wild beasts of the desert. They set up its towers, They raised up its palaces, And brought it to ruin. ¹⁴ Wail, you ships of Tarshish! For your strength is laid waste